Vital to acknowledge support – Dr Fong

FIJI has been through a difficult two years and it is important to acknowledge the support from partners as the country returns to normalcy, says Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong.

He said this during the official handing over of critical health supplies by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS) in Suva yesterday.

In response to Fiji’s COVID-19 situation and upon the request from the Ministry of Health, the USAID had funded the procurement of critical health supplies together with lifesaving ventilators distributed throughout the country.

In September 2020, Fiji received a gift of 30 ZOLL ventilators which were placed in three divisional hospitals.

“Today’s commemoration is part and parcel of a celebration of our building up our capacity to re-strengthen ourselves and reorganise the health system,” Dr Fong said.

“This handover today is important we are receiving USAID funded critical care consumables that are being used to support the longevity of the equipment already in use.”

US Embassy chargé d’affaires, Tony Greubel praised Dr Fong and the MOHMS for their hard work in ensuring the safe reopening of Fiji and its borders.

“I’m always mentioning, specifically the MOHMS and the wonderful job the team have done,” he said.

“Under the trying circumstances, caring for so many patients and the vaccination campaign at full tilt, your people did such a great job.

“Almost two years later we are celebrating the handover of these critical care supplies and celebrating the partnerships between our two nations.”

The additional critical care supplies will support the ongoing use of and sustainability of the ventilators and management of critically ill patients